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Children and Families

(Bill)(File type: pdf; size: 24.47 KB)15 October 1998Department of Social Development (National) (The Government of South Africa)

This bill amends the Child Care Act, 1983, so as to simplify the procedure for the granting of legal representation for children in children's court proceedings as well as to:
Provide for the rights of certain natural fathers where the adoption of their children born out of wedlock has been proposed and for certain notice to be given.
Amend the Natural Fathers of Children Born out of Wedlock Act, 1997, so as to consolidate the law on adoption under the Child Care Act, 1983.

Children under the age of 18 years old, who are living and working on the streets, are urged to seek accommodation at child and youth care centres that provide specialised programmes and are registered with the Provincial Department of Social Development.

There are numerous organisations in South Africa working with Youth around a vast variety of topics. These organisations include non-profit organisations, faith-based organisations, government sponsored initiatives and community-based initiatives. To find out what organisations are active in your area, you can search the following online databases:
National Youth Commission Database of South African Youth Organisations
Umsobomvu Service Organisations Database

Foster care is the placement of child, who needs to be removed from the parental home, into the custody of a suitable family or person willing to be foster parents. This is done by order of the Children's Court.
Children can be removed from their parents if they are abused, neglected or abandoned.

Family Group Conferences are one of the many restorative justice mechanisms used to reintegrate young offenders into society. This short article explains in more detail what family group conferences are and how they work.